NEW YORK — Biotech company Helaina, founded in 2019 by Laura Katz, announced that it raised $45 million in Series B funding.

The company said the funding round, led by Avidity Partners, brings its total funding to $83 million. The round had additional investments from Spark Capital, Ingeborg Investments, Tom Williams of Heron Rock, Barrel Ventures, Siam Capital, Relish Works, CF Private Equity, and Primary Venture Partners.

Helaina, which produces breast milk proteins, said the latest funding round will allow it to continue scaling its human lactoferrin alternative ingredient – created through precision fermentation – to support women’s health, active nutrition and healthy aging.

The company said the ingredient, called effera, may support iron homeostasis and metabolism, a balanced immune response, and may promote a beneficial microbiome.

Effera is a human equivalent bioactive protein for nutrition and may be used in such applications as functional foods, beverages and supplements. Helaina is partnering with Kroma Wellness, The Feed, Levell Nutrition, Healthgevity and Mitsubishi International Food Ingredients, Inc. for its effera product to become available in consumer products.

“This infusion of new capital marks the next phase of growth for Helaina, in which we are accelerating the availability of our first ingredient through new partnerships — the result of years of work to drive innovation and scientific rigor within nutrition,” Katz said. “At this pivotal moment in our company’s journey, we’re proud to partner with Avidity Partners, an investment firm with an outstanding reputation for supporting best-in-class biotechnology companies rooted in clinically backed science.”

Helaina said it also is working to create infant formula and working with formula manufacturers.

“We are thrilled to support Helaina’s innovative approach to nutrition, which aligns with pressing health and wellness priorities, from immune system support to fostering a balanced gut microbiome,” said Jacob Garfield, managing director at Avidity Partners. “We are confident that Helaina’s technology and business model are well positioned to meet the growing demand for high quality nutritional ingredients that promote vitality across all age groups.”